Highline Schools administrators will have "recommitment conversations" with each teacher at SeaTac's Chinook Middle School and White Center's Cascade Middle School to see if they are "up for change" or want to transfer to "start afresh someplace else," according to Superintendent John Welch.

"In addition, the district may administratively transfer staff as necessary," Welch noted.

The district is applying for a grant that would mandate significant changes at the two schools, including the replacement of the principals.

A special board meeting to approve the Chinook and Cascade plans will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4 at district headquarters, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W.

The district received official notification on Jan. 28 from the state office of the superintendent of public instruction that Chinook and Cascade were identified as low performing schools and eligible for a grant that could bring up to $2 million for each school. The funds must be spent to implement one of four rigorous intervention models.

At the Feb. 24 board meeting, Welch reported district staff has been receiving feedback on the proposed changes from staff, parents and students from the two schools.

Chinook and Cascade staff overwhelmingly supported a "transformation" change model while a majority of parents also chose it, according to Welch.

The transformation model is the least drastic of the four options offered by state education officials.

Other models call for closing the schools, choosing an outside group to run the schools or replacing at least half of the teaching staff at each school.

Besides replacing the principals, the preferred transformation model calls for implementing a new evaluation system that uses student growth as a significant factor and rewarding staff who are increasing student academic achievement while supporting and then removing teachers who are not.

Students would also receive increased learning time, possibly on weekends or during a longer school year.

Welch also reported that an all-day outside review by a state consultant was conducted at both schools.

The consultants recommended the district move forward with the transformation model for both schools, according to Welch. They stated the district has a solid foundation, the ability to adopt many of the reform strategies and strong support from the teachers' union.

Added Welch, "They are also clear that each school is at its own place in terms of excitement to undergo reform and willingness to change."

The board's second meeting of the month during the school year is an "away game" at a different school each month.

The meeting begins with the principal of the host school bragging about the school and highlighting the achievements of students and teachers.

By the luck of the draw, the February meeting was held at Chinook with opening remarks by principal Evie Livingston, who must be replaced as part of the reform plan. Colin Ryan is principal at Cascade.

Livingston outlined the efforts at the school to improve academic achievement.

Several teachers, parents and students supported Livingston and talked about a "new Chinook."

"I love this school, " teacher Erin Shinn declared.

Board president Bernie Dorsey told Livingston, "It is impossible to imagine how hard the last month has been for you."

He praised Livingston for her "integrity and grace" and thanked her for laying the groundwork for Chinook's improvement.